Ski pole



Feb. B8, 1936. w, R. J. OUVER SKI POLE Filed May 2, 1933 Patented Feb. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES SKI POLE William Robert James Oliver, Westmount, Quebec, Canada.

Application May 2, 1933, Serial No. 669,005 In Canada May 19, v1932 1 claim'.

The invention relates to a ski pole, as described in the present specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing that forms part of thesame.

The invention consists essentially in fashioning a metal standard into a ski pole as pointed out in` the claims for novelty following a -description in detail of the preferable construction in the attachment of the various parts.

The objects of the invention are to insure both lightness and stability as well as materially contributing to the avoidance of very serious accidents incidental to the use of material of less dependability, thereby giving confidence to skiers, especially those venturing in great feats, and thus requiring reliable support towards the finish of a jump or fancyaccornplishment; to produce ski poles at a reasonable price to the public and facilitate their manufacture by insuring all Vthe advantages that metal can offer in respect to the attachments and Vwhich will eliminate all the disadvantages incident to the use of bamboo poles and the chances of splitting through the introduction of rivets and plugs,which are always too much in evidence; to construct a modish pole that will lend itself to decoration and to the fashions, particularly of women who affect this sport; and generally to provide an efficient, handsome and convenient ski pole.

In the drawing, Figure l is a vertical elevational view of the pole broken away intermediate of its length.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the pole broken away intermediate of its length.

Figure 3 is an elevational View showing a slight modification of the pole with particular refer.- ence to the ring fastening and spike.

Figure Ll is a sectional view showing details of the spike and fastenings and the strap and handle together with the ring fastening member in the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional detail showing another spike fastening along the same lines as those already illustrated.

Like numerals of ,reference indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

Referring to the drawing, the standard constituting the pole is a metal tube, indicated by the numeral l5 and preferably made of aluminium alloy and having the metal loops I6 and I1 diametrically opposite to one another towards the lower end of the tube and securely riveted through the block I8 within the tube.

The pole at the lower end is preferably closed by the plug I9 annularly grooved at 2lb for the introduction of the annular groove 2| in the tube l5, these grooves 20 and 21| bringing the tube and the plug into locking engagement.

The plug I9 is flanged at 22 over the lower edge of the tube and the spike 23 extends from 5 this flange.

The ring 24 forming a shoe is cross laced by means of thongsor straps through the loops I6 and l1, these loops. bearing V.the weight of the cross lacing and ring on the snow.

The handle 25 is preferably formed of wood covered with leatherV or canvas 26 and has the stem 21 projecting downwardly plugging the upper end of the tube, the sleeve 29 of canvas or leather covering the metal standard forming a hand grip immediately below the handle 25. The strap 39 is suitably looped for' the wrist of the skier and fastened by the plug.

In the `use of these poles as a general rule, two are the complement to each skier and the practice is to slip the hand in the loops and press down sometimes grasping the handle or head, thus for climbing up hills, the two poles constitute the walking sticks and the rings the shoes, these preventing the pole from sinking into the deep snow, and in this connection it may be pointed out that the metal loops are very firmly secured and not likely to be pulled away from the pole. The hand loop ends are firmly secured and in one form they are riveted to the pole itself, the rivet being strong enough and having a large enough head to avoid the tearing of the strap.

The handles or knobs in both forms are covered with suitable material and are preferably of wood or hollow pressed steel. In so far as the ring is concerned, the irregular web in lacing is used and the laces are made customarily of deer-like thongs or strips, so that there is ample support for the poles and incidentally for the skier as these rings act as shoes in walking and have a very flexible support from the loops which are arced in cross section to avoid cutting.

In other respects the detail description fully explains the advantages and strength of the various parts to this pole and emphasizes by examples of the attachments the great efficiency that is secured by using a metal pole.

In Figure 3, the tube is of metal, the foundation of this invention being the metal tube, and in so far as to this particular device is concerned the spike and its fastenings at the one end, the handle and its fastenings at the other end contributing to the construction of a new ski pole not hitherto known, especially in the use of the plugged ends, and the intermediate ring and its 55 fastenings, so the tubular form lends itself readily to the security insured in the fastenings which is all important where there is danger to life and limb.

In so far as the spike end of the pole, indicated by the numeral 44 is concerned, this spike 45 in the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 4 is made with a reduced threaded stem 46, the spike itself being of the usual shape used in ski poles and this stem is inserted through the outside washer 41 which closes the end of the pole and forms a stop.

The stem continues through the compression Washer 48 and through the cylindrical rubber block 49 and again through the upper compression washer 50 having the nut 5I screwed thereon.

The spike 45 practically forms an inverted head on the lower end of the stem 46, and this head abuts the washer 8| closing the lower end of the pole 44 and forms the means of screwing the stem into the nut and drawing the upper compression washer towards the lower end, which expands the rubber block and brings it into engagement with the inner wall surface of the pole, thus completing the fastening as the rubber block insures a safe grip of the pole.

In Figure 5, the modied form of spike indicated by the numeral 52 extends downwardly from a wood screw 53 being preferably integral with the wood screw.

The plate 54 closes the lower end of the pole and the cylindrical block of wood 55 fills the lower portion of the pole and reinforces it, this block being firmly held by the bolt 56 inserted through the pole and through the block, the bolt 56 being used in connection with the ring in the equipment of the pole.

In both Figures 4 and 5, the reinforcing tube 6| is situated wherever desired for strength and may extend therethrough, or the reinforcing may be higher up.

In regard to the ring, perhaps the most useful construction of ring of any, is that illustrated in Figure 3, the rattan ring itself 62 being clad with the metal ring 63. 'I'he clips 64 embrace the metal and the rattan and have the strap slots 65.

The thongs or straps 66 and 61 are threaded through the slots and through the strap eyes 68, these strap eyes being held by the bolt 56, which is secured by a nut or riveted.

'Ihe flexibility of this form of ring is to be noted and also its durability for the ordinary rattan ring needs to be replaced every year or two, but the metal or aluminium clad ring will practically last forever.

The handle 15 is formed with a knob 16 and shank 11, the shank being inserted in the top of the metal pole and forced therein and securing the strap 18. l

The knob 16 and the metal pole immediately therebelow are encased in the leather covering for the comfort of the skier.

There is every reason to believe that with these modifications of the fastenings for the strengthening of the metal pole, all proper precautions are taken to avoid accidents in so far as the use of the invention is concerned, for the ring is strongly secured, notwithstanding the flexibility necessary in this particular part of the pole construction. Then again the compression 'of the rubber block is a very good way indeed of fastening the spike and the spike itself is extremely strong in this construction.

What I claim isz- A ski pole consisting of a metallic tubular standard, a tube secured to and positioned ntermedi-ate the ends of and Within the standard, a block forming a closure for the lower end of the standard, washers engaging the upper and lower faces of the block, a w-asher engaging the lower end of the standard and in contact with the washer engaging the lower face of the block, a bolt projecting through said washers and block, said bolt having a nut on the upper end thereof and engaging with the upper washer, and a spike on the lower end thereof and engaging with the lower washer, and a handle forming a closure for the upper end of the standard.

WILLIAM ROBERT JAMES OLIVER. 

